The Government of Sierra Leone has secured a $5 million agreement with China’s Diming Yimo Printing Company to overhaul and digitize its state-owned printing infrastructure, marking a major step in the country’s push for digital transformation.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed by Minister of Information and Civic Education, Hon. Chernor Bah, during an official visit to Beijing, aims to upgrade the Government Printing Press into a fully digitized and commercially viable operation. The deal includes the installation of advanced printing equipment, technical training for local staff, and the establishment of a national printing training institute.
Chairman of Diming Yimo, Mr. Qing Shuang Meng, said the facility will be operational within three months and is expected to serve as a regional hub for high-quality print production in West Africa.
“This is not just another printing facility,” said Meng. “We are building a regional hub that will set new standards for print production across the sub-region.”
Minister Bah called the agreement a “strategic milestone” aligned with President Julius Maada Bio’s digital transformation agenda. He emphasized the project’s potential to boost government revenue, reduce dependency on external printing services, and create sustainable local expertise.
“This groundbreaking deal will help us bring Sierra Leone’s printing industry into the 21st century,” Bah said.
The Sierra Leonean delegation included Ambassador to China Dr. Abu Bakarr Karim, Government Printer Mr. Salifu Suma, and Permanent Secretary Andrew Kamara. The team toured Diming Yimo’s operations in Beijing and held further discussions with the Beijing Institute of Graphics and Communication (BIGC), exploring partnerships with Sierra Leonean universities to support technical education.
The move is expected to create skilled jobs, modernize public sector printing capabilities, and position Sierra Leone as a leader in print and publishing technology in the region.
The project rollout is scheduled to begin immediately, with equipment delivery and training set to start within the coming weeks.
